1 killed, 3 seriously injured in series of crashes on the 60 Freeway in Industry

INDUSTRY >> A chain reaction series of three crashes on the 60 Freeway early Sunday left a Mojave man dead, authorities said.

Three other people suffered major injuries and one person suffered minor injuries in the crashes, which occurred over a two-minute period beginning at 4:24 a.m. on the eastbound 60 Freeway, just east of Fairway Drive, according to California Highway Patrol Officer Ron Warrior.

Five vehicles were involved in the sequence of collisions, which forced the closure of all eastbound lanes of the 60 Freeway for about 31/2 hours, Warrior said in a written statement.

A 52-year-old Corona man who was at the wheel of the 4Runner was hospitalized with major injuries, officials said.

The second crash took place one minute later as the driver of a 2014 Dodge Challenger crashed into the disabled Suburban, causing the Challenger to veer into the path of travel of a 2009 Toyota Camry that was driving alongside it, Warrior said.

The driver of the Challenger, a 37-year-old Los Angeles man, was hospitalized with major injuries, officials said. The driver of the Camry, who officials described as a 20-year-old Los Angeles man, was not injured.

“Subsequent to this collision, a third occurred which resulted in a fatality,” Warrior said.

The Suburban, which had already been involved in two crashes, was sitting in between the carpool and fast lanes when a 2001 Mitsbushi Galant with a 20-year-old Rialto man at the wheel approached the scene, according to Warrior. Thomas had gotten out of the SUV and was standing beside the wrecked Suburban.

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The Galant struck both the Suburban and Thomas, who was thrown into the roadway, Warrior said. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

The woman who had been driving the Suburban was hospitalized with major injuries, officials said. The Galant driver suffered apparently minor injuries.

A Sig Alert was issued for all eastbound lanes of the 60 Freeway, Posada said. The lanes were cleared shortly before 8 a.m.

The crashes were being investigated by officers from the Baldwin Park office of the CHP.